Dozens were martyred and others were injured in an Israeli bombing that targeted the Shifa Medical Complex in the Gaza Strip on Friday evening. The occupation admitted that it had bombed an ambulance in front of the medical complex, while the World Health Organization expressed its deep shock at what happened.
The Director General of Hospitals in Gaza explained that there were dozens of martyrs and injured when the gate of the Shifa Complex was targeted, adding that the occupation committed a new massacre in front of the complex.
The occupation aircraft bombed wounded people who were heading to the Rafah crossing in the hope of receiving treatment abroad, with most Gaza hospitals out of service due to the Israeli bombing.
The General Director of Hospitals said that the occupation forces bombed ambulance convoys 3 times today.
The Red Crescent explains the fact that the occupation targeted ambulances near Al-Shifa Hospital
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said tonight that the Israeli occupation aircraft targeted the ambulance convoy that left the Al-Shifa Medical Complex to transport injured people to the Rafah crossing on Friday afternoon, twice, the first one kilometer away from Al-Shifa Hospital and the second at its gate.
The association explained in a statement issued tonight, “At approximately 16:05, the vehicles set off in front of Al-Shifa Hospital by decision of the Ministry of Health coordinator to move towards the south of the Gaza Strip, for 5 ambulances, 4 of which belong to the Ministry of Health and one belongs to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.” During the convoy's arrival at a distance of about 4 km from Al-Shifa Hospital, on the only coastal road connecting the Gaza Governorate and the south of the Strip (Al-Rashid Street), the convoy was surprised by the closure of the road with large quantities of stones and rubble as a result of bombing in the place, and accordingly the ambulances turned back towards the hospital, but During its return, not far from Al-Shifa Hospital, the ambulance leading the convoy (belonging to the Ministry of Health) was directly targeted by a missile, which led to it being directly hit, and its crew and those in it being wounded.”
She continued: “Immediately, other ambulances continued to continue their way towards Al-Shifa Hospital, and as soon as the association’s ambulance (Mercedes 3-1242-55) arrived at the hospital gate to bring down the wounded person (Najwa Totah, 35 years old / shrapnel in the chest and foot injury / ICU condition), who was Heading to the Rafah crossing to receive treatment in hospitals in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and at a distance of no more than two meters from the hospital gate, the occupation forces bombed the front of the ambulance vehicle with a single missile, resulting in a number of martyrs (15 martyrs) and more than 60 wounded civilians and displaced persons. Those at the entrance to the hospital. Paramedic Shadi Al-Tayef was also injured with minor shrapnel wounds in his foot and bruises, and ambulance driver Ahmed Al-Madhoun was injured with bruises in his chest and a state of extreme panic.
She added: "The ambulance was also completely out of service as a result of being exposed to severe damage, bringing the number of Red Crescent ambulances that were out of service due to Israeli targeting since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip to 8 vehicles, in addition to the martyrdom of 4 paramedics belonging to the association while performing their work." Humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, and about 21 paramedics and volunteers were injured.
The association stressed that deliberately targeting medical personnel constitutes a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime, and that states party to the four Geneva Conventions have a legal obligation and responsibility to ensure the protection of medical personnel and civilian persons in all circumstances.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society called on the international community to intervene urgently to put pressure on the occupation authorities to ensure the protection of civilians, headquarters, and medical teams working in the Gaza Strip.
Guterres expresses his "dismay at the attack" on the ambulance convoy near Al-Shifa Hospital
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his "dismay at the attack" on the ambulance convoy near Al-Shifa Hospital.
"The images of bodies scattered in the street outside the hospital are horrific," Guterres said in a press statement.
He added, "Civilians in Gaza, including children and women, have been besieged for nearly a month and deprived of aid.
Color and bombing,” stressing “the need to stop this.”
The World Health Organization expresses its shock at the occupation’s bombing of ambulances
On Friday, the World Health Organization expressed its shock at the Israeli occupation bombing of ambulances in the Gaza Strip.
The Director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom, said in a statement published on the United Nations website that he “expresses his deep shock at reports of attacks on ambulances evacuating patients near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which led to deaths, injuries and damage.”
He renewed his call for the need to protect patients, health workers, facilities and ambulances at all times, calling for a “ceasefire now.”
In turn, the United Nations Population Fund condemned the Israeli attack on ambulances at the entrance to Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, which caused “victims of innocent women and children and displaced Palestinians searching for shelter.”
The UN agency called for "an immediate ceasefire to prevent further human suffering."
